Hello Boss,
We’re excited to announce the recipients of the BOSS Impact Fund 2024 Invest in Progress Grant, a collaborative initiative by Sage and The BOSS Network. This partnership has allowed me to level my commitment to my community over the last three years and empower small businesses with the resources they need to thrive.
The selected recipients stand out for their dedication to the community, entrepreneurial spirit, and desire to grow their professional skills. These women could have been any of you, as the number of applicants always exceeds the support we can provide. As a Black woman founder, I understand the hard work and dedication that you all are putting into your brands. This is why it is important that we support initiatives that provide resources for minority-owned businesses.
Thank you to our amazing partners at the Chicago Urban League and the Divine Nine Sororities. We received almost 12,000 applications and with limited resources, we are proud of the 25 women we were able to fund. I encourage you to keep pushing forward, building your businesses, and connecting with your community resources. Know that your company has what it takes to succeed — just read last year’s grant winner Jon’ll Boyd’s, testimony on never giving up. As we celebrate 15 years with The BOSS Network, my team and I will continue to fight to bring resources to Black women founders.
P.S. We are working on a tool for founders, to give you a roadmap to building a brand and accessing capital. Stay tuned!
Cheers to success,
Dr. Cameka Smith, BOSS Founder
